Skip to main content

202nd Commencement Ceremony Held on May 5, 2023

 



On Friday, May 5, the 202nd commencement ceremony of Savannah State University (SSU) took place at T. A. Wright Stadium at 9 a.m. and was also live-streamed. You can watch the video here, to see over 350 students receive master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees.

Georgia State Senator, Sonya M. Halpern provided the commencement address, and presented the President Kimberly Ballard Washington, and Harold N. Washington, President of the Savannah State University National Alumni Association (SSUNAA), with a $10,000 check for the university. Mr. Washington, Senator Halpern, and President Ballard Washington are pictured above.

Senator Halpern was elected in 2020 and is currently serving in her second term in the Georgia State Senate. Representing neighborhoods across the five cities of Atlanta, including the City of South Fulton, College Park, East Point, and Union City, District 39 is one of the most socio-economically diverse districts in the state of Georgia and the country.

Though she is a relatively new legislator, she has authored / sponsored more than 10 bill that are now Georgia state law. With a passion for the arts, education, and politics, Senator Halpern has dedicated her civic and philanthropic engagement in these areas over the past two decades. In 2014 President Obama appointed her to the committee on the arts, national board of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., making her the first African-American and first Georgian to serve in this capacity since PACA’s inception in the 1950’s.

With decades of fundraising, marketing and event production experience in for-profit and non-profit environments, she launched Whiskey In A Teacup Consulting in 2019, a cultural consultancy and communications firm. Early in her career she held critical advertising sales roles at several of the country’s leading media companies including ESPN, Inc., The Walt Disney Company, and Cox Enterprises.

Senator Halpern earned her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hartford’s International MBA Program and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children, and is a supporter of HBCUs.

 


Location: 3219 College St, Savannah, GA 31404, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SSU Mourns the Passing of Former Athletics Director

  Savannah State University is deeply saddened by the passing of former Director of Athletics, Mr. Sterling Steward. A proud native of New Orleans, Mr. Steward served as SSU’s Director of Athletics from 2011 to 2018. Throughout his tenure, his leadership, dedication, and commitment to the success of student-athletes made a profound and lasting impact on the entire SSU community. Savannah State University will forever be grateful for Mr. Steward’s numerous contributions to SSU Athletics and the University as a whole. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of students, athletes, and staff. Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the Steward family, his friends, loved ones, and all who are affected by this loss.
Post a Comment
Read more

SSU Foundation, Inc. Elects New Officers

    Chairwoman, Dr. Clementine Washington  The Savannah State University Foundation elected new officers during its 2025 winter board meeting held January 18 on the Savannah State University campus. The new officers will serve a 3-year term and were sworn into their new roles effective immediately. The new officers include Chairwoman, Dr. Clementine Washington; Vice Chairman, Mr. Michael Kaigler; Secretary, Mr. James Melvin; Treasurer, Mr. John Kelley; and Financial Secretary, Mrs. Carolyn Price. “It is with profound humility and gratitude that I thank you for your vote of confidence in electing me to serve as Chairman of the Savannah State University Foundation, Inc.,” said Washington. “During my term of office, we will work together as ‘One SSU’ to conduct the business of the Foundation, pursue my campaign goals, and consider other initiatives that may be presented, evaluated, and approved by the board membership.” The Savannah State University Foundation, Inc. is ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dr. Jermaine Whirl Named SSU President

Dr. Jermaine Whirl   The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Dr. Jermaine Whirl president of Savannah State University (SSU), effective April 1, 2025. Whirl, an Aspen Fellow, most recently served as president of Augusta Technical College (ATC), a role he has held since November 2020. Whirl’s career includes nearly 20 years of service as a faculty member and administrative leader at public colleges and universities in his home state of South Carolina and in Georgia. He has previously worked at several institutions, including Greenville Technical College, Savannah Technical College, Georgia Southern University and East Georgia State University. “As we welcome Dr. Whirl back into the USG family, we deeply appreciate the steadfast and dedicated leadership of interim President Cynthia Robinson Alexander,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Cynthia has laid a strong foundation for Savannah State’s future, one that Dr. Whirl is well-equipped to build...
Post a Comment
Read more